20 years in Canada

20 years ago, this guy embarked on a journey that changed his life. Together with his parents and siblings, he left the “oude vaderland” The Netherlands and all that was familiar there to begin a new life in Canada.

Johannes and his family had been dairy farmers for most of his life, but when Johannes was in his late teens his father felt called into the ministry. After selling the family farm and studying theology for several years, he accepted a call to become pastor of my family’s church in Chilliwack.

Johannes was excited to immigrate to Canada. He still dreamed of farming one day (it’s in his blood, 6 generations strong!) and he knew that those dreams were more likely to come true here in Canada with lower costs (at the time) and fewer restrictive regulations. And sure enough, within a year he and two brothers were able to purchase a dairy farm complete with herd and quota in Rosedale.

Around this same time, months of friendship and some flirting 😉 led to us starting our relationship too. This handsome pastor’s son and farmer captured my interest and my heart quite soon after ❤️ And that was that! We were married in 2005, moved into the Rosedale farmhouse in 2006, welcomed our first child in 2007 (and 4 more through the years), and branched out on our own here at our Agassiz farm in 2011.

And now, together, we dreamed. Big dreams. Exciting dreams. Dreams of following generations of family tradition and making cheese from our own cows’ milk. Last year, those dreams too came true and we’ve enjoyed a very busy but very satisfying and rewarding 18 months of selling our own cheese and milk directly to our customers.

It’s wonderful to look back over the past 20 years and marvel at the changes, the trials, the hardships, the incredible blessings, and the fulfilling achievements - and to think all that started one rainy November day in 2002. ❤️